Shavkat Rakhmonov was able to edge past Ian Machado Garry tonight at UFC 310 to set up a welterweight title fight with current champion Belal Muhammad, but had to go to a decision for the first time in his career to get the win.
Round One:
Both men sizing up each other from just out of range for most of the opening minute then Rakhmonov opts to clinch up and press Garry into the cage.
Rakhmonov tries to peel Garry off the cage and go for a trip, but Garry stays upright. Rakhmonov continuing to work from the clinch then goes for the takedown again, spinning Garry around as he does so, but Garry shows excellent balance to stay on his feet.
Rakhmonov still strong in the clinch though. Now Garry reverses the clinch position and tries for a trip takedown of his own that almost works out, but Rakhmonov finds his balance and then is back to clinching against the cage.
finally Garry is able to break free to striking range. Leg kick from him. Good overhand right lands for Rakhmonov, then he works back into the clinch against the cage late in the round. Garry with a knee as he works away from the cage.
Round Two:
Oblique kick for Garry. Spinning kick to the body misses from Rakhmonov. Rakhmonov checks a leg kick attempt. Jab for Garry.
One-two lands for Rakhmonov after both feel out with their jab. Head kick attempt by Garry is blocked. Oblique kick fro him again.
Fakes from Rakhmonov and then lands a right hand. Rakhmonov throws a left, but Garry clinches up and turns him into the cage. He tries for a high knee. Rakhmonov able to reverse the position.
Not much happening in the clinch here as we approach a minute left in the round. Rakhmonov tries for a takedown, but Garry stays upright.
Garry breaks away while trying to land a spinning backfist but it misses. Rakhmonov soon responds with one of his own that does land, but not flush.
Round Three:
Body punch from Rakhmonov. Head kick attempt from Garry is blocked. Leg kick for him. Now a body kick lands. Jab for Garry now.
Leg kick from Garry that knocks Rakhmonov off-balance a little for a split-second and follows up with a punch.
Punch for Rakhmonov. Jab from Garry. Rakhmonov back to the clinch against the cage. Knee to the body from Garry while his back is against the cage. Rakhmonov trying to get the takedown as they move along the cage, but nothing doing for now and eventually the ref opts to separate them.
Head kick attempt from Garry comes close. Body kick for Rakhmonov. Jab for Rakhmonov. Body kick for Garry and an oblique kick. Now a jab. Wheel kick attempt from Rakhmonov just misses. He does graze the target with a spinning backfist though. Garry trying to set up a spinning attack. Rakhmonoc with a clean punch late in the round.
Round Four:
Oblique kick for Garry. Now a body kick. A few punches thrown by Rakhmonov miss. He does land with a spinning back kick to the body though. Low kick for Rakhmonov. Now one from Garry.
Body kick for Garry. Another low kick for him. Jab to the body. Rakhmonov into the clinch against the cage again. Garry reverses the position and lands a left hand on the way out to get to striking range.
Rakhmonov with a fast entry and lands a nice takedown. Garry closes his guard up. Half the round remaining. Hammerfists land for Rakhmonov.
Garry scrambles up and gets to his feet. Rakhmonov trying to stay on him. Garry looking for a choke, but Rakhmonov quickly brushes that aside and moves around to his back as Garry has one knee down. Garry stands back up, facing the cage as Rakhmonov remains clinched to his back.
Garry able to escapes now. Spinning backfist from Garry misses. Rakhmonov with a double-leg and lands it in the center of the Octagon.
In Garry’s guard Rakhmonov lands some hammerfists and punches as the round draws to a close.
Round Five:
Garry just comes up short with a punch and Rakhmonov lands his on the counter. Rakhmonov with another fast entry, but this time around Garry stuffs it. There’s a bit of a scramble and Garry manages to get Rakhmonov’s back as they hit the mat.
Garry has the body lock and starts to work for a rear-naked choke. Rakhmonov trying to fight it off. Garry abandons it for a moment but then goes for it again and it’s close, but Rakhmonov is keeping his chin tucked just enough.
Rakhmonov suddenly bursts into a transition to turn and get on top. Big moment for him. Now he’s working from Garry’s tightly locked full guard.
Garry trying to punch from his guard as Rakhmonov just tries to get some control time.
Final minute of the round as Garry lands a few body punches. Garry trying to scramble up and does so, but Rakhmonov is still clinched up. Garry reverses the position, but then Rakhmonov responds in kind.
Final few seconds and Garry lands a right hand as he breaks away and then throw a spinning backfist that grazes the target.
Decision:
This was more of a cautious chess match than a thriller between two fighters trying to preserve their unbeaten records while paving the way to a potential title shot. In the end it’s Rakhmonov’s wrestling and clinch control time that helps him to emerge with a unanimous decision victory (48-47 x3).
